Pearl Jam’s 1996 American Music Award Sells for $5,500 on eBay

An American Music Award given to Pearl Jam has sold for $5,500 via an auction on eBay.

The award was presented to the group at the 1996 American Music Awards in the Favorite Artist – Alternative Music category. The other nominees in the category that year were Green Day and Nine Inch Nails.

Pearl Jam won the award for their third album, ‘Vitalogy,’ which had been released 13 months before the ceremony. ‘Vitalogy’ features such songs as ‘Better Man,’ ‘Last Exit’ and ‘Bugs’ and has sold over five million copies in America despite the fact that the band refused to make any videos for its songs.

Among the other winners that year include Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks, Hootie and the Blowfish and the Eagles. Brooks, who was named Favorite Artist of the Year for his ‘The Hits’ album, caused controversy when he refused the award, saying that it wasn’t fair to give the award for a compilation. The Favorite Artist of the Year award was subsequently retired.

The American Music Awards have been held since 1974. Unlike the Grammys, which are determined by music industry insiders, winners are determined by a poll of music fans.